Sim brace sinks Hakoah Sydney City East
Sydney United 58 returned to winning ways minus a suspended Panny Nikas under Friday night lights with a slick 3-1 victory during their PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s clash with Hakoah Sydney City East at a drenched Sydney United Sports Centre.
Matthew Sim did the damage in the absence of Nikas with a second half double including a cheeky effort from a corner alongside a 7th minute strike from the returning Chris Payne to move Sydney United 58 into third.
It was a new look Reds side as former Western Sydney Wanderer Yianni Perkatis also made his debut as they started the contest off brightly with the returning Payne having the simplest of headers in the 7th minute after a wicked corner to put the home side up 1-0.
Hakoah Sydney City East took their time to get started as they sat back and tried to play on the counter.
Andre De Jong created a chance from a Harry Jones interception which stung the hands of Sydney United 58 keeper Thomas Manos in the 12th minute.
The visitors would draw level on 18 minutes after Jones strode down the wing before he was bundled over in the box. Anthony Frangie stepped up and fired the spot kick in to make it 1-1.
Missing the presence of Nikas, Nicholas Olsen took on more of a central role for United 58 and the midfielder did well to create some space for himself but dragged his shot wide of the right post.
Right after the break Sydney United 58 caught Hakoah cold again. Yutaro Shin’s powerful shot was parried by Bouzanis right into the path of Sim to bundle home and make the score 2-1.
Manos had to be on guard twice, as Hakoah almost struck. First De Jong took the ball onto his left before he fired wide of the left post, before Frangie burst into the area and forced a smother from the keeper.
United 58 found another gear as they secured all three points on 79 minutes. It was Sim with a direct effort from the corner that drifted over the line for 3-1 and his seventh for the season.
The home side continued to pepper Bouzanis as the clock wound down as Shin and substitute Anthony Vrlic whistled efforts wide of the post as the rain continued to tumble at Sydney United Sports Centre.
Sydney United 58 striker Chris Payne said he was pleased to score on his return.
“It definitely was good to score but I’m proud of the character the boys showed.” He said.
“We could’ve had some more goals but we’re in a good position for the end of the season push.”
Hakoah Sydney City East coach Gavin Rae was disappointed in the slow start from his side.
“Yeah we started slowly and let them get in front of us. Same in the second and couldn’t get away with it.” Said Rae.
“I’m disappointed especially after the confidence going into halftime but they deserved it.”
Match Stats
Friday 9th June 2017
Sydney United Sports Centre
Referee: K. Griffiths-Jones
Assistant Referees: J. Park & S. Ho
4th Official: T. Harris
Sydney United 58 3 (Payne ‘7, Sim ’49 and ’79)
Hakoah Sydney City East 1 (Frangie ’18)
Sydney United 58: 3. BERTOLISSIO Nathan, 5. TOMELIC Anthony, 6. USKOK Tomislav, 7. SHIN Yutaro, 8. SIM Matthew(PARIC ’84), 11. PERKATIS Yianni(BILIC ’82), 14. STAVROULAKIS Nicholas(VRLIC ’75), 20. MARKOVIC Peter, 21. MANOS Thomas, 32. OLSEN Nicholas and 66. PAYNE Chris
Subs not used: 9. VRANIC Adrian and 25. SESTAN Daniel
Yellow cards: nil
Red cards: nil
Hakoah Sydney City East: 1. BOUZANIS Anthony, 6. DRAPER Cameron, 8. ORGAD Paul, 10. DE JONG Andre, 12. GREEN Jack(JONES ’70) 14. FRANGIE Anthony, 15. BEREVESKOS Dean, 17. SWEET Gideon, 18. JONES Harry, 19. RAE Gavin and 33. SHADDOCK Connor
Subs: 5. BLUMBERG Dylan, 27. ROBERTS Nathan, 30. ELDRIDGE Connor and 45. FIGUERIA Michael
Yellow cards: Orgad and Rae
Red cards: nil
-By Justin Davies, PS4 NPL NSW Men’s 1 reporter
